Contact lenses for myopic eyes and methods of treating myopia

Abstract

A contact lens and a method for treating an eye with myopia is described. The contact lens includes an inner optic zone and an outer optic zone. The outer optic zone includes at least a portion with a first power, selected to correct distance vision. The inner optic zone has a relatively more positive power (an add power). In some embodiments the add power is substantially constant across the inner optic zone. In other embodiments the add power is variable across the inner optic zone. While in some embodiments the inner optic zone has a power designed to substantially eliminate lag of accommodation in the eye with myopia, in other embodiments, the add power may be higher.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A contact lens for myopia, the contact lens comprising an inner optic zone with a diameter of less than 2 mm, a transition zone and an outer optic zone surrounding the transition zone, the outer optic zone having at least a portion immediately adjacent said transition zone with negative power, wherein the inner optic zone has an add power portion with a substantially constant add power relative to the negative power of between 0.5 diopters and 4 diopters inclusive, and wherein the transition zone occupies a radial distance of 0.5 mm or less. 
     
     
       2. The corneal contact lens of  claim 1 , wherein the outer optic zone includes at least a portion with a third power, relatively more positive than the negative power, wherein the portion with a third power is distinct from the inner optic zone. 
     
     
       3. The corneal contact lens of  claim 2 , wherein the third power is substantially equal to the power in the add power portion. 
     
     
       4. The corneal contact lens of  claim 2 , wherein the third power is different to the power in the add power portion. 
     
     
       5. The corneal contact lens of  claim 4 , wherein the third power is greater than the power in the add power portion. 
     
     
       6. The corneal contact lens of  claim 1  wherein the outer optic zone includes at least two portions with power greater than the power in the add power portion, separated by a portion with the first power. 
     
     
       7. The corneal contact lens of  claim 6 , wherein each of said at least two portions have the same power. 
     
     
       8. The corneal contact lens of  claim 6 , wherein each of said at least two portions have different powers. 
     
     
       9. The corneal contact lens of  claim 8 , wherein the portion with more positive power is located on the contact lens at a greater radial distance than the portion with a lesser power.